Sand handling apparatus



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SAND HANDLING APPARATUS Filed April 8 1949 16 Sheets-Sheet l4 Sept. 1, 1953 G. J. KOREN 2,650,395

SAND HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Apri 8. 1949 1s Sheets-Sheet 15 Patented Sept. 1, 1953 SAND HANDLING APPARATUS George J. Koren, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Pettibone Mulliken Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application April 8, 1949, Serial No. 86,342

14 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to apparatus for handling molding sand. More particularly the invention relates to that type of apparatus which is designed for use in a foundry, comprises a wheel equipped frame structure and operates when in use successively to accumulate, condition and discharge previously used molding sand preparatory to re-use.

One object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this type which is an improvement upon, and has certain inherent advantages over, previously designed apparatus of the same general character and is characterized by the fact that it has greater capabilities of use, possesses extremely high efficiency and when in use may be controlled or operated so that it discharges the sand to form either a windrow or a pile.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sand handling apparatus of the type and character under consideration which comprises in addition to the wheel equipped frame structure a self-contained motor driven unit which is positioned at the rear end of the frame structure, serves to screen and aerate the sand and also to discharge the sand in stream form, embodies a gyratory screen, a blade equipped rotor beneath the screen, a housing around the rotor and a discharge spout on the housing, and is mounted on the frame structure so that it is bodily rotatable about a vertical axis to the end that the discharge spout on its housing may be positioned so as to discharge the stream of sand in any desired direction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sand handling apparatus which embodies a motor driven horizontally disposed, rotary magnetic separator for ridding the sand of metallic objects before it is delivered to the gyratory screen of the self-contained screening, aerating and discharging unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sand handling apparatus of the last mentioned character in which the motor driven magnetic separator is located over the gyratory screen and receives sand by way of a motor driven horizontally disposed screw conveyor which is located at the front of the frame structure, embodies right and left spiral sections, and operates when the apparatus is propelled forwards to feed'the sand on the foundry floor towards its central portion and also to blend new sand with used sand and wet sand with dry sand, and in addition a motor driven bucket elevator which rereceives the sand from the central portion of the respect to the floor of the foundry.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sand handling apparatus of the type and character last mentioned in which the screw conveyor and the bucket elevator are carried by an upwardly extending hollow column which is tiltably mounted on the front end of the frame structure in order that it may be so angularly adjusted as to position the screw conveyor at diiierent distances from the floor of the foundry.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sand handling apparatus of the character heretofore described in which the upwardly extending hollow column which carries the screw conveyor and the bucket elevator is tilted into different angular positions by way of irreversible gearing including a hand wheel at one side of the frame structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sand handling apparatus of the type under consideration in which the frame structure is supported for propulsion over the foundry floor by a double caster assembly at the rear end of the frame structure and two spaced apart coaxial wheels which are located at the front of the frame structure and have associated therewith motor actuated, reversible, selectively controllable driving mechanisms in order that the apparatus as a whole may be propelled forwards or backwards in a rectilinear course or turned in either direction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sand handling apparatus of the last mentioned character in which the driving mechanisms for the front wheels are controlled selectively by two hand levers which are located at the same side of the frame structure as the hand wheel of the gearing for tilting the hollow column that carries the screw conveyor and the bucket elevator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sand handling apparatus of the type and character under consideration which comprises an electric motor which is fixedly mounted on one side of the frame structure and serves to drive the selectively controllable driving mechanisms: for the front wheels, and in addition an electric motor which is fixedly mounted on the other side of the frame structure and is connected to drive the screw conveyor, the bucket elevator and the rotary magnetic separator.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sand handling apparatus which is generally of new and. improved construction, embodies a novel arrangement of parts and is so designed and constructed that it may be easily operated.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present apparatus for handling molding sand will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a left hand front perspective view of a sand handling apparatus embodying the invention;

Figur 2 is a right hand rear perspective view of the apparatus;

Figure 3 is a left hand side elevation of the apparatus illustrating in detail the construction and design of the irreversible gearing for tilting the hollow column in order to raise or lower the screw conveyor with respect to the iioor of the foundry in which the apparatus is employed;

Figure 4 is a plan view;

Figure 5 is a front view showing in detail the construction and design of the screw conveyor and the bucket elevator;

Figure 6 is a. vertical transverse section taken on the line 6-3 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a horizontal section on the line '|l of Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary, vertical, longitudinal section on the line 88 of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 3-9 of Figure 5 and showing the upper end of the bucket elevator and the construction and design of the rotary magnetic separator;

Figure 10 is a horizontal section on the line Ill-10 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section taken on the line ll-l| of Figure '7 and illustrating in detail the construction and design of the selectively controllable driving 1 mechanism for the left hand front wheel of the apparatus;

Figure 11a is a vertical transverse section on the line |la| Id of Figure 11;

Figure 12 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section taken on the line lZ-IZ of Figure '7 and illustrating in detail the construction and design of the selectively controllable driving mechanism for the right hand front wheel of the apparatus;

Figure 12a is a vertical transverse section on the line l2a-l2a of Figure 1-2;

Figure 13 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line l3-l3 of Figure 3 and illustrating in detail th construction and design of the foot controlled mechanism for releasably locking the self-contained screening, aerating and discharging unit in its various angularly adjusted positions;

- and other foreign matter.

Figure 14 is a vertical section on the line i4l 4 of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a horizontal section taken on the line i5l5 of Figure 3 and showing the construction of the rotatable mounting for the unit;

Figure 16 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line IB-IB of Figure 15;

Figure 17 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line lL-i'l of Figure 16 and illustrating the design and arrangement of the double caster assembly at the rear end of the frame structure of the apparatus;

Figure 18 is avertical transverse section on the line l3-I8 of Figure 16;

Figure 19 is a View partly in section and partly in elevation of the self-contained screening, aerating and discharging unit;

Figure 20 is a fragmentary elevation of the unit; and

Figure 21 is a section taken on the line 21-21 of Figure 19 and illustrating the construction of the blade equipped rotor and the bearing and eccentric drive arrangement for gyrating the screen of the unit.

The apparatus which is shown in the drawings constitutes the preferred form or embodiment of the invention. It is designed for use in a foundry and serves as a medium or instrumentality for handling and conditioning previously used molding sand preparatory to re-use in flasks. In standard floor molding foundry practice the sand, after use, is shaken onto the floor of the foundry. It is then accumulated and subjected to screening in order to rid it of scrap The present apparatus, as hereinafter described more in detail, serves, first to elevate the sand from the foundry floor, then to rid the sand of metallic scrap, then to screen and remove non-metallic foreign matter, then to aerate the sand, and finally to discharge the sand so as to form either a windrow or a pile. As its principal parts or components the apparatus comprises a wheel equipped frame structure 25, motor actuated, selectively controllable mechanisms 26 and 2'! for driving certain of the wheels of the frame structure in order to effect power propulsion of the apparatus as a whole, a pivotally mounted upwardly extending hollow column 28, irreversible gearing 29 for tilting or angularly adjusting the column, a screw conveyor 30, a bucket elevator 3|, a rotary magnetic separator 32, motor actuated mechanism 33 for driving the screw conveyor, the bucket elevator and the magnetic separator, and a self-contained sand screening, aerating and discharging unit 34.

Frame structure The frame structure of the apparatus embodies a pair of spaced apart side beams 35, a crossbeam 36, a pair of crossbeams 31, a pair of crossbeams 38, a left hand platform 39, and a right hand platform 40. Preferably the beams are all channel beams. The side beams 35 are held in fixed and spaced apart relation by the aforementioned crossbeams and consist of horizontal low elevation rear ends, upwardly and forwardly inclined intermediate portions and horizontal high elevation front ends. The crossbeam 36 is arched or upwardly curved and has its ends welded to the outer extremities of the rear ends of the side beams 35. The side flanges of the crossbeam 33 extend upwards. The crossbeams 31 are located inwards of the crossbeam 35. They are spaced apart fore and aft and have the ends thereof welded to the adjacent portions of the rear ends of the side beams. The crossbeams 38 are spaced apart fore and aft and have their ends welded to the upwardly and forwardly inclined central portions of the side beams 35. The left hand platform 39 extends horizontally and is rectangular in form. It consists of welded together channel beams and is fixedly connected to, and projects outwards from, the front end of the left hand side beam. The other platform, i. e., the right hand platform 40, extends horizontally and, like the platform 39, is rectangular. It consists of welded together channel beams and is fixedly connected to, and projects outwards from, the front end of the right hand side beam. The rear end of the frame is supported by a double caster assembly 4| and the front end of the frame is supported by a pair of wheels 42.

The double caster assembly 41 is located beneath, and connected to, the crossbeam and consists of a vertically extending pintle 43, a horizontally extending U-shaped arm 44, an axle 45, and a pair of wheels 45. The pintle 43 extends into, and is in centered relation with, a vertically extending, open ended, tubular member 41, the central portion of which extends through a hole 48 in the central portion of the web of the crossbeam 36 and is welded in place. The upper end of the member 41 is closed by a circular cover plate 49 which is removably secured to a channel shaped bracket 58 by cap screws 5!. The bracket surmounts and is welded to the central portion of the crossbeam 36 and has a central circular hole in alignment with the interior of the tubular member 41. pintle 43 of the double caster assembly journaled in an upper ball bearing 52 and a lower ball bearing 53. The upper bearing extends between the upper ends of the pintle 43 and the tubular member 4i and the lower bearing extends between the central portion of the pintle and the lower end of the member 41. The horizontah ly extending arm 44 is fixedly connected to, and projects from, the lower end of the pintle 43 and has in its outer end a transverse hole 54 in which the central portion of the axle 45 is disposed. The wheels 46 have rubber tires and are rotatably mounted on the ends of the axle. As best shown in Figure 1'7 of the drawings, the ends of the axle are downwardly inclined in order that the wheels 45 are downwardly inclined towards one another. When the apparatus is propelled for ward the arm 44 of the assembly assumes a trailing position, as shown in Figure 16, and when the apparatus is propelled rearwards the assembly 41 swings laterally throughout an arc of 180 into a position wherein the arm 44 extends towards the front of the frame structure.

The wheels 42 are located at opposite sides of the frame structure 25 and consists of hubs and rubber tires. They are disposed adjacent the upwardly and forwardly inclined interme diate portions of the side beams 35 and have the hubs thereof rotatably mounted on the ends of a horizontally extending axle 55. The latter is fixedly mounted in two bearing blocks 56 which are fixedly secured to, and project forwards and downwards from, the central parts of the intermediate portions of the side beams 35.

In addition to the parts heretofore mentioned the frame structure 25 comprises a pair of rearwardly inclined standards 51. These standards are located at the front end of the frame structure and have the lower ends thereof fixedly connected to the front ends of the side beams 35 by means of brackets 58. As shown in Figure 5 the brackets 58 project inwards from the front ends of the aforementioned side beams.

Selectively controllable wheel driving mechanisms The selectively controllable mechanisms 26 and 21 are associated respectively with, and serve to drive, the left and right hand wheels 42. They are actuated by a reversible electric motor 59, a speed reducing unit 60, a shaft BI, and a sprocket and chain connection 62 between the unit 60 and the shaft Bl. The electric motor 59 is fixedly secured to the front end of the platform 39 and is arranged so that the armature shaft thereof extends lengthwise of the frame structure 25. The speed reducing unit 60 is mounted on the platform 39 directly behind the reversible electric motor 59 and embodies a drive shaft (not shown) and a horizontal driven shaft 63. It is of the variable type and may be controlled for speed varying purposes by Way of a rotary hand wheel 59a. When the hand wheel is turned in one direction the speed of the driven shaft 63 is increased and when the wheel is turned reversely the speed of the driven shaft is decreased. It is contemplated that the speed reducing unit 60 will be so designed and constructed that the speed of drive of the apparatus may be varied from 4% feet per minte to 36 feet per minute. The drive shaft of the unit is coupled to the rear end of the armature shaft of the motor to the end that the unit is driven by the mot-or. The driven shaft 93 is located at the rear end of the unit 50 and extends transversely of the frame structure 25. The shaft 6| is disposed rearward of the speed reducing unit 69 and is in parallel relation with the driven shaft 63. It overlies the rear ends of the platforms 39 and 4G and is journalled in a pair of bearings 34 and 55. The bearing 54 is disposed inwards of the left hand end of the shaft 6i and is fixedly secured to, and projects upwards and rearwards from, the intermediate portion of the left hand side beam of the frame structure. The bearing 65 is located at the right hand end of the shaft BI and is fixedly secured to the rear end of the platform 40, as best shown on Figure 7. The ends of the shaft 6i project beyond the side beams 35 of the frame structure 25. The sprocket and chain connection 62 consists of a sprocket 68, a sprocket 67, and an endless chain 68. The sprocket 66 is keyed or otherwise fixedly secured to the inner end of the driven shaft 63 of the unit 50. The sprocket 61 is keyed to the shaft 6| at a point directly inwards of the bearing 64 and lies in the same plane as the sprocket 66. The chain 65 extends around the two sprockets and serves to drive the sprocket 61 from the sprocket 66.

The driving mechanism 25 comprises a clutch it and a sprocket and chain connection '15. The clutch 69 is mounted on the left hand end of the shaft 8! and consists of a drive member 1' i and a driven member i2. The drive member H is connected to the left hand end of the shaft El by a key or spline (not shown) in order that it is slidable axially or lengthwise of the shaft while at the same time it is driven conjointly with the shaft. The driven member 72 of the clutch 69 is disposed directly inwards of the drive member H and is mounted loosely on the shaft 6|. The sprocket and chain con nection 10 comprises a sprocket 73, a sprocket 14 and an endless chain 15. The sprocket 13 is fixedly secured to the inner end of the hub part of the driven member 12 of the clutch 59 and the sprocket 14 is fixedly secured to the inner portion of the hub of the left hand wheel 42. The endless chain 15 surrounds the two sprockets 13 and 14 and serves to connect them together for conjoint drive. When the drive member H of the clutch 69 is shifted inwards into clutched relation with the driven member 12 the left hand wheel 42 is connected for drive by the electric motor 59. When the motor is driven in one direction while the drive and driven members of the clutch 99 are in clutched relation the left hand wheel 42 is driven so as to effect forward propulsion of the apparatus and when the motor is reversely driven while the drive member I I of the clutch 99 is in clutched relation with the driven member 12 the left hand wheel is driven in the opposite direction and effects rearward propulsion of the apparatus. The drive member H of the clutch is slid inwards and outwards into and out of clutched relation with the driven member 12 by way of an upstanding lever 19, a horizontal shaft '51, and an upstanding fork shaped member 19. The shaft 11 extends lengthwise of the frame structure 25. It underlies the left hand end of the shaft =3! and is journalled in a pair of spaced apart bearing brackets 19. The latter are bolted, or otherwise fixedly secured to, the outer part of the rear end of the platform 99. The lever 19 has the lower end thereof keyed or otherwise fixedly secured to the front end of the shaft 11 and embodies a handle at its upper end. The upstanding fork shaped member 19 is fixedly connected to the central portion of the shaft 11 and has at the upper ends of its arms notches in which are seated the outer ends of aligned horizontal pins 99. The inner ends of these pins are connected to a part of the drive member 1! of the clutch 99. When the lever 19 is swung inwards it operates through the medium of the shaft 11 and the fork shaped member E8 to slide the drive member "II of the clutch 99 into clutched relation with the driven member and when the lever is swung outwards it serves to slide the drive member of the clutch out of clutched relation with the driven member 12. In order to brake the left hand wheel 42 and hold it against turning a brake is provided. The latter is in the form of a brake band 82 which surrounds the driven member 12 of the clutch 89. When the band is contracted around the driven member 12 the latter is locked against rotation and hence holds the left hand wheel 42 against turning. The band 92 is operatively connected to the lever 19 so that it is contracted when the lever is swung outwards in order to shift the drive member of the clutch 99 out of clutched relation with the driven member. The means whereby the band is operatively connected to the lever 19 comprises an upstanding arm 83, a cable 84, a bell crank 85, and a bolt 99. The arm 83 has its lower end fixedly connected to the rear end of the shaft 11. One end of the cable 84 is connected to the upper end of the arm 83 by a coupling 9'5. The cable extends inwards from the arm 93, then extends part way around a sheave 88, then extends downwards, then extends half way around a sheave 89 and then extends upwards. The other end of the cable is suitably anchored to the outer end of one arm of the bell crank 95. The central portion of the bell crank is pivotally mounted on a horizontal pivot pin 99 which is fixedly connected to a bracket 9! on the rear end of the platform 39. The outer end of the otherarn'l of the bell crank is provided with a pair of laterally spaced horizontal pins 92 and 93. The pin 92 extends through a loop on one end of the brake band 82 and the pin 93 serves as a pivot for the head of the bolt 86. .As shown in Figure 11 the head of the bolt 86 is forked. The shank of such bolt extends through a threaded hole in a pin 94 which, as shown in Figures 11 and 11a, is disposed within a. loop on the other end of the brake band. The sheave 88 is rotatably supported by way of a bracket 95 which, as shown in Figure 6, is connected to, and extends upwards from, the rear end of the platform 39. The other sheave, i. e., the sheave 99, is located directly beneath the sheave 88 and is rotatably supported by a bracket 99 which is connected to, and projects downwards from, the rear end of the platform 39. When the lever 19 is swung outwards it operates through the medium of the shaft 11, the arm the cable 94, the bell crank 95 and the bolt 96 to contract the band 82 around the driven member 12 of the clutch 59. When the lever 16 is swung inwards the tension on the cable 94 is released with the result that the brake band 82 expands and thus releases the driven member 12 of the clutch and frees the left hand wheel 92 for turning about the axle 55.

The driving mechanism 21 for the right hand wheel 42 is similar in construction and mode of operation to the mechanism 26 for driving the left hand wheel. It comprises a clutch 91 and sprocket and chain connection 98. The clutch 91 is mounted on the right hand end of the shaft 9! and consists of a drive member 99 and a driven member I99. The drive member 99 is connected to the right hand end of the shaft 9i by a key or spline (not shown) in order that it is slidable axially or lengthwise of the shaft while at the same time it is driven conjointly with the shaft. The driven member I99 of the clutch 91 is disposed directly outwards of the drive member 99 and is mounted loosely on the shaft SI. It overlies the rear end of the platform 49 and is located inwards of the bearing 65. The sprocket and chain connection 98 comprises a sprocket I9I, a sprocket 92 and an endless chain I93. The sprocket I9! is fixedly secured to the outer end of the hub part of the driven member I99 of the clutch 91 and the sprocket I92 is fixedly secured to the inner portion of the hub of the right hand wheel 42. The endless chain I93 surrounds the two sprockets I9! and I92 and serves to connect them together for conjoint drive. When the drive member 99 of the clutch 91 is shifted outwards into clutched relation with the driven member I99 the right hand wheel 42 is connected for drive by the electric motor 99. the motor is driven in one direction while the drive and driven members of the clutch 91 are in clutched relation the right hand wheel 42 is driven so as to effect forward propulsion of the apparatus and when the motor is reversely driven while the drive member 99 of the clutch 91 is in clutched relation with the driven member I99 the right hand wheel is driven in the opposite direction and effects rearward propulsion of the apparatus. The drive member 99 of the clutch is slid outwards and inwards into and out of clutched relation with the driven member I99 by way of an upstanding lever I94, a horizontal tie rod 195, an upstanding arm I96, a horizontal shaft I91 and an upstanding fork When 

